THE BRITISH CONTROL IN EGYPT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3858, 28 November 1883, Page 4

THE BRITISH CONTROL IN EGYPT.

The Times correspondent writes from Alexandria :—" The goneral opinion here accords with that of Sir Evelyn Wood, that thero Avould bo no danger in leaving Cairo AA-ithout troops, or with a very small garrison. I myself advocated this plan three months ago, and I ahvays considered the force unnecessarily largo. But 3000 to 4000 men aro necessary to maintain order in the country. In Alexandra, if tho country wero denuded of the occupying troops, tAventy evil-disposed mon could repeat the 11th of Juno incident with littlo delay. Such a riot General Wood's soldiers Avould probably suppress, if an English army were present; but in its absence it Avould be at least a dangerous experiment, to leave the protection of life and property to them. The essence of Lord Dufferin's project is, that 20,000 officials shall be prevented from making illicit profits out of 5,000,000 people, given to grumbling, apathetic, easily led, and moro willing to endure passively native oppression than to Avelcome reform at the hands of strangers. To insist that any resident, however capable, shall attempt Btich a task, without the moral support afforded by the presenco of physical forco, is to invite failure. Another point is worthy of consideration. Hitherto all our bonovolont intervention has had tho amount of success which Don Quixote had with the muleteer; and until comdnced that England is prepared to insist on the execution of tho reforms Avhich tho caso needs, the intelligent native will refuse to give us a support Avhioh must ruin his future, if our policy changes. A superior official, of whom I knoAV that Lord Dufferm had a high opinion, said yesterday: " Hoav dare I rally to tho English policy? Nubar Pasha formed part of a mixed Ministry. You sacrificed him at the word of the oxKhedive Ismail. Riaz Pasha worked loyally with the Control. You sacrificed Mm to Arabi. Having thereby ruined the influence of both, you aro compelled to take Sherif, Avho is opposed to all reforms, and Who has snapped his fingers at tho Commission of Inquiry. You must have great faith in his stupidity if you think he will bo loyal ; and if ho should bo loyal, yet the moment you withdraw his power Avill bo gone.